President,

I welcome Foreign Minister Baiba Braže presiding over today's meeting, and thank Director Kayoko Gotoh and Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Yahya for their briefings.

The Ukraine issue is approaching a critical moment for a negotiated settlement, and the international community's calls for peace and its encouragement of peace talks are growing ever stronger. Recently, there has been a flurry of engagements and interactions among the key stakeholders, which have sent some positive signals. China supports efforts conducive to peace and hopes that the parties concerned will work toward each other, maintain the positive momentum, and promote an early political settlement of the crisis. I wish to make three points.

First, we must safeguard the humanitarian bottom line and work to de-escalate the situation. Not long ago, the parties conducted a new round of prisoner exchanges and reached a localized humanitarian ceasefire, which enabled many civilians to evacuate the frontlines safely and receive humanitarian assistance. These developments deserve recognition. We call on the parties to put people's lives first, exercise calm and restraint, and effectively protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, especially women, children, and other victims of the conflict. At the same time, humanitarian relief efforts should be intensified to help those affected by the crisis overcome their hardships. The parties concerned should strictly comply with applicable international law and ensure basic living conditions, medical treatment, and dignity for prisoners of war and detained persons.

Second, we must strengthen the will for peace and seize the window of opportunity for peace talks. Recently, the parties have expressed their views on how to achieve a political settlement of the crisis. The international community has made extensive diplomatic efforts to promote peace and talks, and Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. will also hold a new round of trilateral talks. The parties concerned should demonstrate political will, maintain contact and communication, build consensus step by step, and work together toward a comprehensive, durable, and binding peace agreement. We look forward to the international community creating a favorable atmosphere for peace talks and playing a constructive role.

Third, we must address the root causes of the crisis and seek lasting peace. There are no winners in conflict and war. The parties concerned should draw lessons from this crisis, uphold the principle that security is indivisible, attach importance to and properly address each other's legitimate security concerns, especially the root causes of the conflict, and build a balanced, effective, and sustainable regional security architecture.

President,

China's position on the Ukraine issue has been consistent. We have always taken the four-point proposal made by President Xi Jinping as our fundamental guidance, and have always stayed committed to promoting peace and talks and a political settlement. We have maintained close communication with Russia, Ukraine, and other parties concerned, actively conducted shuttle diplomacy, and worked tirelessly to create conditions for peace talks and build consensus for peace. China stands ready to work with the international community and continue to make unremitting efforts toward an early ceasefire and cessation of hostilities and lasting peace and stability in the region.

Thank you, President.